Frequently Asked Questions

Health Services

Student Health Services is a free health clinic for Graduate Center students. A licensed nurse practitioner provides primary health care. Students are seen by appointment or on a limited walk-in bases. SHS can also provide referrals to other low-cost clinics and specialists as needed. Many lab tests can be performed at SHS and students will be billed for these services. Through an arrangement with Mount Sinai Medical Center and subsidies by the Doctoral Students Council, tests are usually inexpensive.

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed advanced education (a minimum of a master's degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions, including chronic illnesses. Nurse practitioners provide a broad range of health care services. They provide some of the same care provided by physicians and maintain close working relationships with physicians. An NP can serve as a patient's regular health care provider.

Nurse practitioners see patients of all ages. The core philosophy of the field is individualized care. Nurse practitioners focus on patients' conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. NPs make prevention, wellness, and patient education priorities. This can mean fewer prescriptions and less expensive treatments. Informing patients about their health care and encouraging them to participate in decisions are central to the care provided by NPs. In addition to health care services, NPs conduct research and are often active in patient advocacy activities. Because the profession is state regulated, care provided by NPs varies. A nurse practitioner's duties include the following:

Nurse practitioners provide high-quality, cost-effective individualized care that is comparable to the health care provided by physicians, and NP services are often covered by insurance providers. NPs practice in all states. The institutions in which they work include the following:

Keeping in mind your personal factors (age, existing conditions, recent health issues) and your health history, here are some questions to ask yourself that can help you decide if you should call your provider:

• Do I sense that something is urgently wrong? Start here. Trust your instincts and see a doctor if you sense that you need immediate medical attention. Always check out chest pains, loss of consciousness, or new severe physical pain.

• What are my symptoms? Have I had them before? If so, how did they get resolved? Would the same approach work now or is there something different about the symptoms this time? Could they be related to a recent condition or procedure?

• How long have the symptoms been going on? Are they getting better or worse? Generally any symptoms that are not improving after one to two weeks are worth pursuing with a healthcare provider. Pay attention to symptoms that are getting worse (and consider the first question).

• What do I really think would be best for my health (ignoring any worries that I will be a bother if I go to the doctor, or that it will cost too much)?

Services at the Student Health Services at the Wellness Center provided by the Nurse Practioner are free to currently enrolled graduate students of the CUNY Graduate Center. This includes episodic and primary health care but does not include laboratory testing done off-site. The cost of laboratory testing may be covered by insurance if you have it.
If you are uninsured, laboratory costs for blood and urine tests are substantially reduced through an arrangement with Mount Sinai Medical Center and then reduced further through partial subsidies from the Graduate Center.

For students who are uninsured or underinsured, and require radiology testing, prescriptions, or specialty referral, the SHS attempts to direct students to the least expensive providers, since these services are not connected with the Graduate Center. All students who are uninsured or underinsured are encouraged to investigate possibilities for health insurance and can receive advice through Student Affairs.

The administrative staff is not authorized to dispense of any over-the-counter medication or first aid supplies. When the Nurse Practitioner is not on site/unavailable for a walk-in visit, please visit the Security Desk in the lobby for assistance.

Per New York State law, all incoming students MUST submit proof of immunizations in order to be able to register for classes. All immunization requirements and forms can be found on our Immunization page. Often the easiest way to obtain your immunization records is to request them from your undergraduate college. Even if you attended another CUNY college for undergrad, you must request a copy of your immunization records to be sent to the Graduate Center.

If you are registered as a Graduate Center student and pay your tuition here, you must come to Student Health Services at the Graduate Center, not the health center at another campus. You must go to the health center at the school for which you are registered and pay your tuition. E-permit students must go to their "home campus" for services (where they pay tuition, not where they are permitted to take a class). If you have further questions, please call us at 212-817-7020.